Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 71: Hunt For Han-kang

• Captain Ju: We are going to have to fight Han-kang for real now.

• Captain Ju: I’ll show you how to use a pool cue.

A very ominous declaration kept raining down on me with threatening words.

It seemed like she might actually end up killing someone today, so I felt like I had to follow along.

• Kim Woojin: I have one more lecture left, could you wait for me till it’s done and then we’ll go together?

Thinking I needed to buy some time for her to cool down, I sent a message agreeing with my senior.

• Captain Ju: Sure. Think about what weapon you’ll bring along.

‘Is she for real?’

I had a hard time because of the female seniors last time, and now senior Han-kang is stirring up this trouble, so she seems quite off the rails. Hoping that the fire would die down with time, I moved along to attend my next lecture.

Even while listening to the lecture, honestly, I couldn’t concentrate on it. And I wasn’t the type to study hard, and something felt off, so I checked my phone constantly.

Based on what I knew, there was a system to delay the enlistment for students during the semester if a draft notice was issued.

With not much remaining of the second semester, wouldn’t it be better to postpone it and return after finishing his sophomore year?

‘What, does it really exist?’

Indeed, there was a system in place to postpone the draft notice for university students.

I thought senior Han-kang could also postpone it.

‘It’s not a big deal.’

Thinking that, I sneakily entered the Bamboo Forest. I hadn’t checked it much recently since I left it to Yu Arin, and with the provocative situations in my daily life because of Seo Yerin, I wanted to calm my mind.

• Anonymous44: The cursed doll with a perpetual grin. This story is a well-known urban legend, but there are many variations that have subtly spread. Actually…

The horror story enthusiast who always stirs up ghost stories in the Bamboo Forest.

• Anonymous243: Looking for someone to go to the convention with. We’ll mainly check out the new releases this quarter and…

And the anime enthusiast who talks about anime all day long.

↳ Anonymous11: Stop reeking of sweat and go play in your own turf.

The quarrelsome troublemaker, always ready to pick a fight anywhere, anytime.

• Anonymous59(Admin1): sfb

For some reason, Yu Arin naturally joins in, only to whine about being bored.

• Anonymous69: I wanna have seexxx!

Just another day for the same old sex-obsessed person.

↳ Anonymous90: I wanna have seexxx!

Anonymous90, too busy yet never ceasing in their adoration. Student of Physical Therapy, Lee Eun-woo.

Amid the usual nonsensical posts, with humor or grumbling posts going around,

one post caught my eye.

• Anonymous307: ? I got this from SNS, but isn’t this the alley next to the commercial district at Gahyeon Crossroads?

And with that, an address was provided, leading to a dark alley where a man and a woman stood facing each other.

The person filming seemed to be secretly recording from the end of the alley.

• Yesterday, in front of a certain university, a legendary confession scene happened.

[I like you!]

The screen was too dark to see faces, and the voice was low, but.

The silhouette and clothes looked familiar.

‘Isn’t that the same outfit senior Han-kang wore yesterday?’

Isn’t the person on the other side Seo Yerin?

[I’ve been appealing to you like this so many times. Honestly, you already know how I feel, but are you just testing the waters or something?]

[Senior…]

[No, I don’t mind you doing that. But why with a jerk like him? There are plenty of other guys. Huh? Honestly, am I that uglier than him? Shorter? Poorer? No, right.]

It seems the name was intentionally muted. That’s how desperately the uploader wanted to post this.

[Senior, don’t badmouth –.]

[Did I say anything wrong? It’s because it hurts my pride. It disgusts me to see you getting along with him. I… sigh, damn it. I never imagined I’d be jealous of such a person.]

[Senior, I don’t want to date you. And I don’t want to hear you badmouthing –.]

[Just tell me why I’m not good enough. It’s not like I’ve been unkind to you, right? –.]

[Sigh…]

Seo Yerin finally sighed and answered.

[He’s good in bed.]

[…What?]

[There, I said it. So let’s stop this.]

[No, no! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! What did you just say?!]

As Seo Yerin tried to leave the alley, the video ended with the uploader hastily running away.

“……”

I couldn’t help but stare blankly at the screen where the video was uploaded. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I reported the video and then deleted the reposted article on our community’s “Bamboo Forest”.

I didn’t know about it spreading on SNS, but if it was someone from our department who attended the dinner yesterday, they might recognize the outfit.

More importantly.

‘This senior…’

Didn’t he clearly say something about having a friendly competition with me?

He said he saw me in a new manner. Didn’t he say no matter who ends up dating, we should have soju together?

The spot where I was hit by Yu Arin yesterday started to hurt for no reason. If it was going to be like this, I shouldn’t have gotten hit at all.

• Kim Woojin: Senior, is there a system for delaying military service for students?

After I sent that message to senior Han-kang, a response from him came after a while.

• Senior Han-kang: Yeah, it exists. But I can’t do that.

• Kim Woojin: Why?

• Senior Han-kang: There’s this thing for it. Apparently, I’m not the right person for it according to the procedure?

• Senior Han-kang: I’ve already checked it out. Thanks for worrying, Woojin.

‘Is this guy for real?’

When he doesn’t speak like himself, I get a suspicious feeling, you know?

• Kim Woojin: Did you see how mad senior Ju-hee was about you missing the group assignment?

• Senior Han-kang: I talked to her, and she was pretty angry. But it’ll be alright. Ju-hee said it the last time, didn’t she? If there’s a reason she can’t do anything.

Is he relying on that and acting all brave in front of her? Because Senior Min Ju-hee will keep her word?

But this seems like a different situation to me.

• Kim Woojin: Let’s be honest, Senior.

• Senior Han-kang: ？

• Kim Woojin: You applied for military enlistment because you were embarrassed after confessing to Seo Yerin yesterday, right?

• Senior Han-kang : …Did Yerin tell you that?

‘This crazy bastard!’

• Kim Woojin: There’s a video of you circulating on SNS, you know about it? I’ll send you the link, so go and ask them to take it down, saying it’s you in the video.

• Senior Han-kang: ……

• Kim Woojin: Do you think senior Ju-hee will let this slide? I heard she’s gathering weapons. She even asked me to come with her.

• Kim Woojin: And didn’t you say something about having a fair competition? That I’m a decent guy. That we should have a drink sometime.

• Senior Han-kang: …And you said you weren’t interested in Yerin, but you’ve already gone as far as you could with her.

‘Ugh.’

This is a little heart wrenching.

• Senior Han-kang: Woojin, how about we make a deal?

• Kim Woojin: What deal?

• Senior Han-kang: Help me avoid getting caught by Ju-hee. If we get through today, Ju-hee will calm down a bit.

• Senior Han-kang: All you have to do is stick with Ju-hee today and brief me on your location.

• Senior Han-kang: Right? Woojin.

• Moron: Woojin?

• Kim Woojin: Ah, yes.

I couldn’t reply immediately because I was changing Han-kang’s name in contacts.

• Kim Woojin: But there’s nothing I gain from this?

• Moron: Then, is it okay if I talk to Yiseo?

‘Look at this bastard?!’

• Moron: I’m quite perceptive you know. I can see that Yerin is interested in you and that you and Yiseo are not in an ordinary relationship.

• Moron: Just help me for one day. Please, really. Woojin. I’m begging you.

Sigh.

• Kim Woojin: Then, from now on, call me hyung.

• Moron: ……

• Kim Woojin: If not, go die at the hands of senior Ju-hee. You’ll probably get all your teeth knocked out before you can even say anything to Choi Yiseo.

• Moron: Woojin hyung.

• Kim Woojin: Yes, Kang

• Kim Woojin: Don’t worry, I’ll help you. No matter what senior Ju-hee says, she can’t be that serious.

She’s already shaken off her past and is living as a new person, so how much more could she possibly overdo it?

• Moron: Well.

• Kim Woojin: Well?

• Moron: Yes.

---

“This fucking guy.”

I shouldn’t have just let Han-kang’s words slide. After all, I was someone who had seen senior Ju-hee in her raw form, just as she entered university at the same grade.

Puffing angrily, senior Ju-hee, who had somehow procured a billiard cue, was furiously tapping on her phone. It seems like she was trying to find out where Han-kang was.

• Kim Woojin: In front of the convenience store bench at school.

• Moron: Confirmed.

• Kim Woojin: Confirmed?

• Moron: …Yes.

• Kim Woojin: Respond properly.

• Moron: Yes…

After sending the message, I sneak a peek at senior Ju-hee. She was inquiring about Han-kang’s location in the sophomores group chat.

Honestly, I didn’t want to help Han-kang, but I thought I should at least calm senior Ju-hee down who seemed extremely enraged…

It felt like things could really blow up if handled poorly.

“Still, since the warrant’s out, wouldn’t it be a bit much to criticize?”

As I cautiously spoke, senior Ju-hee’s eyes flared with anger as she glared at me. Then, instead of a cigarette, she chewed on the lollipop she was eating and replied,

“Did you know that that jerk confessed to Seo Yerin yesterday?”

You saw the video then?

It’s been taken down.

How did you manage to see it in that brief moment?

“Seeing that a student can delay military service but chooses not to, doesn’t it just reveal his true nature?”

You’ve also looked up the military enlistment system for students? As expected, you handle things well.

• Kim Woojin: If you get caught, you’re really dead in her hands.

• Moron: ……

“Sigh, let’s go, Woojin. That bastard is in the volunteer room right now.”

Senior Ju-hee, who immediately slung the billiard cue over her shoulder, ran. I took the baseball bat Senior had brought for me and followed right behind, sneaking a message.

• Kim Woojin: Are you in the volunteer room now?

• Moron: Yes, my place is already marked.

• Kim Woojin: On my way there.

No reply.

It seems he’s running away right now.

“I’ll shove this up his ass until it sticks out of his mouth, that fucking son of a bitch.”

“……”

“Woojin, you know what? That bastard can’t go to the military. Because of me, he won’t be able to serve actively and will get disqualified after a re-examination.”

I gulped while following behind senior Ju-hee, who declared ominously.

Even if Han-kang is a complete moron, he doesn’t deserve to die like this.

Hopefully, after today, Senior Ju-hee will calm down.

Then.

Suddenly, a message came to me.

I thought it was Han-kang, but it was someone quite unexpected.

• Yu Arin: Hey.

• Yu Arin: What’s this?

• Yu Arin: (Photo)

• Yu Arin: Isn’t this senior Han-kang and Yerin?

• Yu Arin: But more than that.

• Yu Arin: Aren’t you the one silenced in there?

• Yu Arin: What does “good at sex” mean?

“…….”

Silently putting the phone in my pocket, I pretended I hadn’t seen anything and followed senior Ju-hee quietly.